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From: Alexx@world.std.com (Alexx S Kay)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics.info
Subject: The Cerebus Concordance *DRAFT* 1.2
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Date: 1 Nov 92 22:51:08 GMT
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Any one who isn't *real* interested in Cerebus, *please* hit "n"
now, or maybe even "k". This sucker is *huge*.
Welcome to version 1.2 of the Cerebus Concordance. This document
is intended to index the people, places, items and groups in the
Cerebus stories. Although it should be of interest in various regards,
this is not* a timeline, a checklist of publications, an annotation,
or a dangler list. Those are my other* big Cerebus projects :)
Comments and correction are welcomed, of course. I expect to be
keeping this up-to-date for my own pleasure, but not posting updates
very often (there just isn't enough room on my account). If anyone
wants to take responsibility for distributing the latest posted
version, go for it. Permission is hereby granted to freely distribute
this, as long as you don't charge for it. Just about every person,
place and thing mentioned here is Copyright 1992 Dave Sim.
Most entries are followed by references to the issue and page
where I got the dating information from. Unless otherwise noted, all
issue numbers refer to Cerebus. Lengthier explanations are included
where I felt them necessary.
This is a *draft* release. It (hopefully) completely covers
issues 1-25 and 151-163. In several places I have inserted issue
references as "xxx", which is shorthand for "I haven't gotten around to
annotating that issue yet, and I'll fill it in later."
The Cerebus Concordance 1.2
AARDVARKIAN AGE
See MAPS.
AARDVARKS
Aardvarks are also called "earth-pigs" colloquially.
The PIGTS had an aardvark god-king a thousand years ago (5,
p.16).
...
CEREBUS has never met another aardvark.
AGERDEN, Duke of
Appears in issue 19.
An old friend of Cerebus', formerly a shady operator, now a
(mostly) legitimate Duke.
AKSHUN CROSSING
Located in PALNU, between Palnu city and FLUROC.
ALANNE
Mentioned in issue 13.
A milk-maid whose pregnancy was blamed on NECROSS HAHAHA THE MAD and
was forced to marry GUMS, the village idiot.
ALBATROSS
First mentioned in issue 29, p. 12 as "...a DAM statchoo of a DAM
DUCK!" The Albatross plot in High Society bears a great deal of
similarity to The Maltese Falcon (see ASTORIA).
ALEXANDRA
Appears in issues 154-155.
A young woman living in Lower Iest.
ALFRED
See SUENTEUS PO THE SECOND
AMSTANAT
A country located to the southeast of the lands of KHAIDOGE THE
UNGOVERNABLE and LISHYAN. Capital is SAN-FONIL.
It is ruled by a god-king, for whom the BLACK BLOSSOM LOTUS was
created. Went through some religious wars circa 1361. (10, pgs.5,7).
ANDRENA, GREAT
Mentioned in issue 160.
Ruler of the CIRINISTS of the Upper City in IEST during the time
of SUENTEUS PO III.
APOCALYPSE BEAST
A magical creation of great power. They are controlled by the a
phrase of the form "All who know ____ shall burn at the touch of the
beast...", where the blank may be filled in with any word the creator
chooses. Examples include SUMP THING and WOMAN-THING.
ARNOLD THE ISSHURIAN
ARTEMIS STRONG
A personality of the COCKROACH.
"ARTIST"
Appears in issue 25.
An unnamed artist who owns a castle not far from IEST.
He posesses a number of unusual artifacts, including his castle (a
relic of the Black Tower Period), SUMP-THING, and the ALBATROSS.
He may very well be the "good" magician who stands in opposition
to CLAREMONT (see MAGIC).
He may also be an ILLUSIONIST. He is skilled at symbolist
painting (25, pgs.8-9) and at the use of subliminal messages (xxx).
ASHEM SOGGOT RA
A god/demon? Possibly the name of the sorcerer from "The Flame
Jewel" (1, p.18).
ASHTOTH
A god some sort. Frequently used as an oath: "Ashtoth take me!"
(3, p.7), "Ashtoth preserve me" (5, p.6), "Ashtoth's visage!" (5,
p.11), "By Ashtoth!" (13, p.18).
ASTORIA
Appears in issue 155, 159, 161, 163.
Cameos/Mentions in issues 157-158, 160, 162.
Born in LOWER FELDA (163, p.2).
Originally conceived of as a "Mary Astor character" (HS
notebooks, p.2). Clearly she is based on the Brigid O'Shaughnessy
character Astor played in the 1941 version of "The Maltese Falcon".
She is Lord JULIUS' ex-wife. This led to her station as Duchess
of Parmoc.
"... I believe in state-owned prostitution, pharmaceutically-
assisted miscarriages, ownership of men, guaranteed minimum incomes
for women over the age of fifteen and the inalienable right to self-
determination within those parameters... "
Author of KEVILLIST ORIGINS and, presumably, many other tracts.
AVERS
A satellite city of PALNU, in the CI'NUFINN district.
BACCHUS
A cameo of Eddie Campbell's Bacchus character appear in issue
152, p.15.
BASKIN
Appears in issues 15, 151, 162.
LORD JULIUS's stenographer and assistant. Holds the title
Minister for Executive Planning "in honor of his paying two hundred
pieces a month".
BAY OF SUNSHEE
The sea immeiately around PALNU (18, map).
BEDUIN
Capital city of LOWER FELDA (45, p.10).
BEHN RHIADOR
Southwest district of PALNU, containing the city of STEHLIS (18,
map).
BETH
An artists model. Appears in issues 153-154.
BLACK BLOSSOM LOTUS
Appears in issues 10, 11 and 152.
A powerful magic talisman created by the wizard HERCES for the
god-king of AMSTANAT. It is lost on or about 1361, and doesn't
reappear until 1411 (issue 10), but is soon lost again (11, p.xxx)
Reappears in issue 152, undergoing a strange transformation.
BLACK SUN CULT
Appears in issues 6 and 7.
Cameo in Issue 16.
A mysterious cult of death worshippers from the HSIFAN KHANATE.
They are "centuries" old. The "Black Sun" may be synonymous with
Death. They have a sacred symbol of a circle with two lines
descending from it, similar to a mirrored "Q". They are popularly
known to possess a great deal of treasure, and to be utterly
ruthless.
Their leader is referred to as "the Dark Majesty".
They had at least one major temple in the mountains to the north
of the Hsifan Khanate. In the center of this temple is a huge pit,
inhabited by a giant spider-like creature, apparently identified by
the priesthood with their god. It consumes souls, and is apparently
destroyed (along with the temple) while trying to consume CEREBUS'.
One of their ancient gods ("The Nameless Ones") has a close
resembalance to CEREBUS.
There is allegedly a "Festival of the Black Sun in early winter
(7, p.4).
There is a drink popularly known as a "Black Sun Cocktail"
consisting of dark ale, apricot brandy and BOREALAN whiskey (7, p.4).
BLACK TOWER
BLAKELY, HARMON
Appears in issues xxx.
Cameos/Mentions in issues 156-157.
BLOOD WARS
A series of conflicts going on in and around Boreala around 1411
(2, p.1).
BLOSSOM
Appears in issues 162-163.
An IESTan prostitute of Oriental appearance. I don't believe we
have seen anyone else in the series to date who appeared Oriental. The
COCKROACH falls in love with her.
BOOK OF STOTH
A book quoted in issue 7 that contains some small information on
the temple of the BLACK SUN.
BOREALA
A country to the north of the SEPRAN EMPIRE.
Involved in the BLOOD WARS around 1411 (2, p.1).
Major cities include TEMZA, GURANN, TANSUBAL, and BRANPUR(?).
The government gets much of its income from gold mines, which are
running dry in 1411 (3, p.1; 9, p.1).
BRAN MAK MUFIN
Appears in issues 5, 161
Mentioned in issue 156.
Character originated as a parody of Robert E. Howard's celtic
barbarian chieftain character Bran Mak Morn, a king of the Picts.
Leader of the Pigts.
BRANPUR
A city in BOREALA, about a day and a half walking distance from
TANSUBAL. On the Aardvarkian Age map, it is mistakenly listed as
"Brahpur".
BRUGEL ARMS TAVERN
A tavern in TOGITH. "HORTNE" had an apartment in the cellar.
BRYAN
Appears in issues 152-153. First Iestan to recognise CEREBUS as
the former Pope, and to cheer him on against the Cirinists.
Presumably dies in 153.
BUZ
A narcotic compound invented by K'COR. It is one hundred percent
addictive, and contains all the food value needed by an adult for one
day. Exact formula is onlyknown by K'COR and SEDRA.
CALENDAR
"Shrove Teusday" (4, p.19).
The High Holy Days observed by the Eastern Church of Tarim
(possibly the Western as well) last "from midwinter to Concordance
Eve... No priest is allowed to eat salted nuts... comment on the
weather... or *leave* his place of meditation" (17, p.11). From various
internal evidence, the High Holy Days must be at least 20 days long.
Concordance Eve is the "festival of spring's arrival" (21, p.2).
Possibly the spring Equinox?
CAPTAIN COCKROACH
A personality of the COCKROACH.
CEREBUS
Appears in issues 1-24,...151-163.
First printed appearance is issue 1, page 1.
He often refers to himself in the third person, a barbaric
northern custom.
CEREBUS appears to have no soul (2, p.19; 7, p.20), though what
the implications of this are in his world is unclear. Conversely, he
may have a soul, of a nature that that trying to consume it results in
the consumer's destruction.
CEREBUS has a great fondness for apricot brandy. He is first
seen drinking it in issue 4.
Though small, CEREBUS is deceptively strong. He is capable of
breaking sturdy chains (4, p.18). He has developed quite a lot of
muscle in his oversized snout and tail, and is capable of using them
as fighting limbs. (2, p.7; 6, p.7; 8, p.3; 14, p.19, etc.).
CEREBUS' fur smells truly awful when wet.
CEREBUS seems to disdain the use of armor (except for an
occasional helmet) probably relying on his speed, skill, and small
size to protect him (9, p.4). He is one of the very few right-handed
swordsmen in ESTARCION, which may also help to explain his success.
CEREBUS' theology is well indicated in issue 5 with his thoughts
"Tarim, Ashtoth, these were gods... They brougt war, pain, they killed
without reason or apology" (p.19). CEREBUS is himself bloodthirsty
towards his enemies, and vindictive when he can get away with it.
CEREBUS is an expert con man, and skilled at quickly making up
mostly-plausible "facts" to support his schemes.
CEREBUS is often plagued by curiosity, and will frequently enter
situations that he *knows* will get him into trouble because of it.
...
On the letters page of issue 26, Sim discusses CEREBUS' "complete
lack of expertise" in warfare, and his gradual realisation of this
fact. "He is learning to not trust his instincts when it comes to
picking an army to fight with. His instincts in that area are not
particularly good."
He is the number 6 crossbowman in ESTARCION (27, p.9).
CEREBUS studied for three years with Magus Doran in his youth.
CEREBUS has good night vision. (30, p.2)
Places CEREBUS has been:
"Flame Jewel" city
Boreala
Tansubal
Temza
Branpur
Sepran Empire
Serrea
Red Marches
Demonhorn Mountain
Pigt Tunnels
Hsifan Khanate
Iest
Imesh
Places CEREBUS has not(?) been:
T'Capmin Kingdoms
Wall of Tsi
Smina
CHARISSE
Appears in issue 163.
One of CIRIN's aides.
CHEEN, GENERAL
Mentioned in issue 22.
A member of the military tribunal ruling LOWER FELDA.
CHENEA
A city in ONLIU.
CI'NUFINN
The western province of PALNU. Contains the cities of AVERS and
CIHNU.
CIHNU
A city in the CI'NUFINN province of PALNU.
CIRIN
Appears in 100, 151-152, 154-156, 159-160, 162-163.
Cameos/Mentions in 20, 161.
Spiritual and Political head of the Cirinists. She is also an
aardvark, though not a dwarfish one; if anything, she may be suffering
from giantism. Author of THE NEW MATRIARCHY, "Dualism as Fallacy", and
presumably other works.
This name is also that of the founder of Cirinism, but they are
different characters, unless this one is *much* older than is obvious
(or is a reincarnation of the original).
She has a very bad temper when she gets annoyed.
She is very strong, and has an excellent sense of smell (162,
p.5).
CIRINISTS
Appear (as a group) in issues 20, xxx, 151-161.
...
From the letters page of issue 26: "The Cirinists are the most
recent incarnation of the original matriarchal society that once
dominated Estarcion." It is also mentioned here that the Cirinists
have control of UPPER FELDA since the revolution, but are a minority
and/or persecuted underground elsewhere.
Cirin has been staging revolutions and infiltrating populaces
throughout the world. (28, pgs. 6-7) She has purged her own inner
circle three times since the revolution. (28, p.18)
..
It was revealed in issues 150-151 that Cirinists are telepathic
with one another, and that any harm to one of them causes all others
in the vicinity to "swarm" the attacker.
Cirinists (at least Cirinist soldiers) are deadly fighters.
Citizenship in a Cirinist-run government is detrmined by
childbirth, only mothers are citizens. Infertile women are of very
low status, and abortion and birth control are outlawed.
CLAREMONT, PROFESSOR CHARLES X.
Appears in issue 23-25.
Disguised for most of issues 23-24 as "Madame DuFort", of "Madame
DuFort's School for Gifted Debutantes".
A parody of both the Marvel Comics character Professor Charles
Xavier, and of his principal writer during this period, Chris Claremont
(who also wrote the Man-Thing comic book for a time). Professor Xavier
was the dean of "Professor Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters",
secretly the students were the mutant heroes known as the X-Men.
"I decided to do a tongue-in-cheek treatment of Chris Claremont's
X-men series. Having read (and heard) so often at this time that Chris,
when faced with developing a new character in the series, would ask,
sometimes rhetorically but more often not, "Is there any reason this
character can't be a woman?" [...] Marvel was also on a kick at this
time about protecting their trademark on major characters by doing
female versions of them. They ended up doing two around the same time -
- Spider-Woman and She-Hulk. The implication of this move, at least in
my mind, was that any publisher doing a female version of a Marvel
character that wasn't Spider-Woman or She-Hulk would have free rein to
use those characters -- Thingette, The Woman Torch. So taking the bull
by the horns, I decided to do Woman-Thing." (_Swords_of_Cerebus_,
volume six, Introduction to issues 23-25).
CLARINDA
Appears in issues 151, 153-154, 161.
A CIRINIST, and aide to CIRIN and MRS. THATCHER.
CLOVIS
Presumably a god of some sort. Frequently used as an oath: "By
Clovis' beard!" (1, p.5; 2, pgs.5, 17), "Clovis' beads!" (2, p.14; 3,
p.10; 4, p.15, etc.), "Clovis' blood!" (2, p.16; 3, p.7), "By Clovis'
teeth!" (2, p.18), "Clovis' molars!" (3, p.11), "Clovis' ears!" (3,
p.15), "by Clovis" (3, p.16), "Clovis' teeth and tankard!" (4, p.4),
"Clovis' orbs" (4, p.21), "Clovis' tonsils!" (8, p.9), "Clovis'
instep!" (9, p.5), "by Clovis' rack and irons..." (12, p.5), "Clovis'
burial mound!" (14, p.11), "Clovis' lobotomy scar..." (20, p.16).
COCK AND BULL TAVERN
A tavern in BEDUIN. Appears in issue 12.
COCKROACH
Appears in issues 11-12, 21-22, 154-155, 158-163.
Cameos/Mentions in issues 13, 156-157.
His first incarnation is that of The Cockroach, a parody of
Batman, in issues 11-12. He is a multiple personality, a facet of
many of his later "incarnations". By day, he is an (unnamed)
merchant, who used to be a sorcerer, but now destroys magic objects
because they are "bad for business". By night, he is The Cockroach, a
masked avenger, who continually pummels passers-by on the mistaken
assumption that they had something to do with the death of his
parents. He is about 50 years old when Cerebus meets him.
Cerebus often refers to him as "the bug" or "cootie".
In his second appearance (issues 21-22), he has been molded
bypresidentWEISSHAUPT into "Captain Cockroach", a Captain America
parody.
...
The notebook pages in "High Society" issue 1 have a picture of a
"Corn Roach" character. Never used in the story, he "eventually
became the Moon Roach."
In the letters page of issue 27, Sim say that he is still "making
sure that the drapes don't eat the house plants."
In issue 30, he returns as the "Moon Roach", a parody of Marvel
Comics Moon Knight character. Moon Knight was considered by many to
be a rip-off of Batman, whom the original Cockroach parodied.
Kevitch, the new sub-personality of the Moon Roach, may be named
after Bill Sienkiewicz (pronounced 'sin-kevitch'), Moon Knight's most
famous artist. There may also be an element of "kvetch" a Yiddish(?)
word meaning someone who comments abusively on things.(?)
He is now under ASTORIA's control, she having seduced him. She
has implanted his new-found interest in economics. She has created a
new personality, Artemis Strong. Astoria alleges that he came up with
the Moon Roach personality himself, but Michelle later contradicts
this.
..
normalroach
A parody of normalman
..
normalroach reappears in issue 154, in which he seems to be
integrating his personalities into a more coherent (or at least self-
aware) whole. These are led by a new identity, the Punisheroach.
Punisheroach is a parody of the Marvel Comic's character "The
Punisher", a vigilante who goes after drug dealers with large caliber
weapons and extreme predjudice.
The Roach is now exhibiting clear telepathic/mystical powers, and
a much clearer picture of the world than he normally has, though still
far from completely sane.
CONCORDANCE EVE
A major religious holiday, celebrating the arrival of spring (21,
p.2) Probably also used to mark the new year.
CONNIPTINS
Appear in issues 8-9.
Various nomadic northern tribes that are gradually encroaching
into the RED MARCHES. They have more advanced medicine than CEREBUS
is familiar with (8, p.11). Their war cry is "Might makes Right!
Might for Right! Might for Might! Right for Might! Fight! Fight!
Fight!"
Once ruled Iest (8, p.12)
Apparently subject to the HSIFAN KHANATE (8, p.19)?
On the letters page of issue 26, Sim says that they never had any
real chance.
COOTIE
CEREBUS' nickname for the COCKROACH.
MRS. COPPS
Appears in issues 155, 158.
Cameos/Mentions in issues 156-157.
An Iestan Cirinist, in charge of heading CIRIN's project to
construct a huge GOLD SPHERE.
CRAWLER
"A creature from the dawn of time, a creature of sorcery" (4,
p.6) which "DEATH" sends to attack CEREBUS.
CROMAGS MAC MILC
A PIGT from issue 5.
DARNIER PRISON
A prison in BEDUIN. The COCKROACH was imprisoned there in issue 12.
DEADALBINO
See ELROD.
"DEATH"
Appears in issues 8, 151.
Allegedly a demon who assumed the identity of "Death" 7000 years
ago, but was then devoured by suucubi.
In issue 153, page 7, a cameo of Neil Gaiman's version of Death
from Sandman appears in the lower right-hand corner.
DEIDRE
Appears only in issue 11. A city guard in BEDUIN.
DEGUIN
Appears only in issue 11. A city guard in BEDUIN.
DEHRSION
A southern city state. Part of the SEPRAN EMPIRE? Has had a
CIRINIST-supported rebellion. Located on the SOFIM River.
Under attack by the PIGTS (5, p.13).
They manufacture champagne (10, p.6).
DESHEN, SECOND GENERAL
Appears (sort of) in issue 22.
A member of the military tribunal ruling LOWER FELDA, and a parody
of President Richard Nixon.
DESPUESS
Appears in issue 13. A THEYR villager.
DIAMONDBACK
A popular card game, with numerous variations. The word is also
used to describe the deck of cards, which are usually printed with a
diamond pattern on their backs. First mentioned in issue 4.
The rules for Match Diamondback are laid out in issue 27, p.11.
A Diamondback deck contains 1 magician, 2 priestesses, 3 queens, 4
kings, and 5 priests. For games with more than 2 players, multiple
decks are used, but with extra magicians removed so that
only one remains in the deck.
It is interesting to note that, with the exception of the
magician, female cards are higher ranking than their male equivalents.
Dave Sim produced and sold Diamondback decks for a short while.
D'MITRI
Appears in issue 13. A THEYR villager.
DORAN
The wizard CEREBUS studied with in his youth. (28, p.3) Lived in
IMESH (Introduction to issue 9, _Swords_of_Cerebus_, Volume Three).
Unknown what happened to him when K'COR took over the city. Creator
of the ENERGY GLOBES OF IMESH (9, p.13).
DUFORT, MADAME
See CLAREMONT.
EASTERN CHURCH OF TARIM
EIGHTH SPHERE
Appears in issues 28, 156-157.
SUENTEUS PO THE FIRST claimed to have meditated for 72 years in
order to attain the Eighth Sphere (28, p.1).
The Eighth Sphere would appear to be a general term for any of a
number of areas on the "borders" of the SEVENTH SPHERE, with
particular curious properties. The Eighth Sphere is malleable, and
its structure can be manipulated by the minds of those within it. In
parts of it, the past and future may be experienced.
E'LASS
A schemer and con artist. Appears in issues 6, 16. Usually works
with a bruiser named TURG.
ELF, REGENCY
Appears in issues 29, 155-156, 161.
Cameos/Mentions in issues 157, 162.
The "Fake" Regency Elf is implied to have been an aspect of
SUENTEUS PO THE FIRST (156, pgs.5, 8, 19).
Cerebus mentions a "wood faerie" in issue 14 (p.16), but the
context makes it difficult to tell if he is referring to a mythical
creature or not.
ELROD OF MELVINBONE
Appears in issues 4, 7, 12, 21-22, 155, 159-163.
Cameos/mentions in issues 8, 157.
Elrod is a parody of Elric, a swords and sorcery character
created by Michael Moorcock. More specifically, he is a parody of
Elric's appearances in the Conan comic books by Roy Thomas and Barry
Smith (issues 14 and 15), which in turn were visually based on the
covers to paperback Elric novels painted by Jack Gaughan. Dave Sim,
at least as of 1981, has never read an Elric story (other than the
ones that appeared in the Conan comics) (Introduction to issue 4,
_Swords_of_Cerebus_, Volume 1).
His speech patterns are based on those of the Warner Brothers
cartoon character Foghorn Leghorn, which were in turn based on a once-
famous radio character named Senator Claghorn (played by?).
He claims to be a wanderer, and the last ruler of a dying race, a
sorcerer and slayer of his kin, much as Elric does, but there is no
evidence that any of this is more than a figment of his imagination.
His country's name is MELVINBONE, which is a take-off on Elric's
country of Melnibone. Elric also has a black sword, though his isn't
that way from rust.
"He always pops up, seemingly from nowhere, with no explanation
of how he got out of the fix we left him in (Aha! You hadn't noticed
had you) and an entirely new vision of the best direction for his life
to take." (Introduction to issue 4, _Swords_of_Cerebus_, Volume 1).
In issue 22, Elrod is "killed", but remains an animate spirit,
able to possess living bodies as "Deadalbino". This is a parody of a
late sixties DC comic book character, "Deadman", who was similarly able
to possess living people. At the end of the issue Elrod returns to his
own body, which returns to life.
"You might be wondering *why* this would happen to Elrod when he
got killed, but that goes back to why everyone is watching Cerebus all
the time and wondering what he's up to. So that's for me to know and
for you to read about.
I should be getting to it around isssue 175."
(_Swords_of_Cerebus_, volume six, Introduction to issues 21-22).
...
In High Society, he is revealed as quite a popular figure. The
public actually believes his claims about himself even more than he
does.
..
In issue 155 he reappears in a smaller version of his earlier
"roach" costume, claiming to be a new member of the Legion of Six-
Foot-Telepathic-Cockroaches.
ENERGY GLOBES OF IMESH
A series of magical spheres of energy, apparently used as either
guardians, or as a gauntlet to test one's skill. They can send out
beams of energy at opponents, but these may be absorbed by metal.
They are not intelligent. They flare brightly just before striking,
and take several seconds to recharge.
ENIATH
A satellite city of PALNU, in the VESSARIAT district, on the
NEMETH RIVER (18, map).
ENOTHAS
A southern city state. Part of the SEPRAN EMPIRE? Has had a
CIRINIST-supported rebellion.
EOGHAN
A country to the northwest of BOREALA. Only appears in the
Aardvarkian Age map.
ESHNOSOPUR
A southern city state. Possibly part of the SEPRAN EMPIRE? Has
had a (short-lived) CIRINIST-supported rebellion.
The toxin PENTAZIN can be found there (14, p.7).
ESHTAHNIN WILDERNESS
Located far to the southeast. A cinnamon exporter (14, p.5).
ESTARCION
The name of the world that CEREBUS is set on. See MAPS.
EYE IN THE PYRAMID
Appears in issues 14-16, 160-161.
A conspiracy to topple LORD JULIUS from power. In their first
appearances, only male members are shown. In _mothers_&_daughters_, we
see only *female* members, and it is implied that ASTORIA is their
leader.
CEREBUS uses their name in his "kidnapping" (27, p.7).
The symbol of an eye in a pyramid dates back at least to ancient
Egypt, and can be seen on the American dollar bill to this day. It has
often been associated with secret societies, most notably the
Illuminati.
EYE OF TERIM
"The Eye of Terim, gold and shining prize -- no mortal shall
wrest this gem ... from crimson claw of demon Khem" (2, p.14). "Most
precious" of the five SPHERES OF THE GODS (2, p.16). After KHEM's
spell is broken, it appears to be a "tarnished iron sphere", implying
that it may not have been the *actual* Eye of Terim in the first
place.
FELD RIVER
The Feld River runs south from the TCAPMIN KINGDOMS past UNSHIB,
turning west at MORESH, then passing BEDUIN before turning south again
at IEST to make it's way to the coast of ONLIU.
FELDWAR STATES
PALNU(?), IEST, ONLIU, LOWER FELDA,...
See also UNITED FELDWAR STATES
FERAS, TANES
Appears in issue 3. A fellow who lived in BRANPUR until he
besmirched Red SOPHIA's honor and was forced to marry her. He expired
soon after.
FINAL ASCENSION
FLAME JEWEL
Said to be flawless and worth a king's ransom (1, p.4). The one
that CEREBUS finds is actually an illusion-enhanced walnut (1, pgs.21-
22).
FLUROC
A city to the north of PALNU.
FRET MAC MURY
Appears in issues 5, 156.
Cameos/Mentions in issues 67, 157.
A PIGT. His name is an obvious parody of actor Fred MacMurray.
FROG AND DUCK
A tavern in PALNU (14, p.4).
GARSK
Captain of the guards in IMESH in CEREBUS' youth (9, p.5).
GASTON
Prime Minister of IEST before CEREBUS. First mentioned in 27,
first appeared in 30, name first mentioned in ...
GEET-A
Appears in issue 19.
"I decided to do a parody of Frank Thorne's Ghita because while I
wouldn't say I was fond of 1994 the magazine, nor a particular advocate
of the kind of stories Frank was doing, I was very fond of the way
Frank's artwork made such great strides when he switched to black and
white from colour comics. I conceived the whole story in a short space
of time, my major concern being to produce one good silly self-contained
issue before I went off on this complicated political piece ov over-
lapping and inter-locking factions." (_Swords_of_Cerebus_, volume 5,
introduction to issue 19).
GERBIES
Typically used as magician's pets, these creatures feed on violent
emotions (19, p.17). The nameis probably a reference to Steve Gerber,
who created the Marvel Comics character "Man-Thing", who was empathic,
and reacted strongly to the emotions of those around him.
GERRIK, SIR
Mentioned in 163.
CIRIN's (adopted?) son.
GHETTY'S POINT
Mentioned in issue 17.
A PALNAN army camp, run at one time by Commander KRULL.
GIEPIE
Appears in issue 14.
An importer in PALNU who worked with THE EYE IN THE PYRAMID.
GITAN RIVER
Forms the western and northwestern borders of PALNU, then extends
into T'GITA (18, map).
THE GODS' FENCE
A mountain range north of the SEPRAN EMPIRE. Only appears in the
Aardvarkian Age map.
GOLD SPHERE
A sphere of pure gold is said to be one of the elements required
to make the FINAL ASCENSION.
GORCE, Lord
Appears in issues 18-19.
Mentioned in issue 22.
Governor of the VESSARIAT district of PALNU.
"Lord Gorce was created ... to establish what would appear to be a
major threat to Lord Julius' control of Palnu." (_Swords_of_Cerebus_,
volume 5, introduction to issue 19).
GORT
Mentioned in issue 20.
An ILLUSIONIST in TOGITH. One of the few people who can reach the
SEVENTH SPHERE (20, p.3).
GRAUS
A T'GITAN warrior. Appears in issues 18, 19.
GREER
Appears in issue 156.
A CIRINIST General.
GRIMES
Appears in issues 17.
Mentioned in issue 18.
Assistant, biographer (and later jailer) to Commander KRULL.
GRISELDA
Appears in issue 19.
One of HENROT's GERBIES.
GUDRE
Appears in issue 17-18.
Mentioned in issue 19.
A T'GITAN leader, father of STROMM.
GUMS.
Mentioned in issue 13. See entry on ALANNE for details.
GURANN
A city in BOREALA. Apparently a large city where one might
expect to find a freak show (2, p.4) and marketplace (2, p.16).
SOPHIA knows "Gurranian tonsil kissing".
HAMMEL
Mentioned in issue 18.
A FLUROC spice merchant, killed in the T'GITAN assault.
HAMMOND
Appears in issues 155-156, 161.
An IESTAN engineer, working with the CIRINISTS to construct a
GOLD SPHERE.
Probably a member of the construction firm Hammond and Son
Associates (156, p.6).
HARKER
Appears in issues 18-19.
Lord GORCE's assistant.
HENROT
Appears in issues 3, 19.
A powerful wizard. Father of Red SOPHIA, creator of GEET-A, ex-
husband of Mrs. HENROT-GUTCH.
HENROT-GUTCH, Mrs.
Appears in issue 163.
Cameos/mentions in issues 19,.
HEZZRETH
A king of a CONNIPTIN tribe (8, p.16).
HIGH HOLY DAYS
See CALENDAR.
HIVAT
A city on the NEMETH RIVER, in the VESSSARIAT province of PALNU
(18, map).
HOLLAND M. HADDEN
First appears in issue 26. Leading member of the Hadden, Hadden
and Dipp corporation, which is trying to interest Palnu in gold-plated
streetlamps. Killed by MOON ROACH in issue 30 after signing away the
money his company is owed by the government.
HORTNE
Alias of HENROT
HSIFAN KHANATE
A powerful nomadic tribe that currently controls much of the RED
MARCHES. North of TOGITH.
Referred to in a derogatory manner as "Hsiffies".
"They're yellow-skinned, their eyes look funny and they're
- nomads*" (21, p.12). Basically, a Mongol phenotype.
IANAG
A small country to the west of PALNU (18, map). Ruled by Prince
SHOMBER (19, p.5).
IEST
Pronounced "Ee-est".
IEST - GEOGRAPHY
Iest is located on the FELD River, and is central to the FELDWAR
STATES.
The city of Iest is divided into two sections, lower Iest, and
"upper" or "greater Iest". Greater Iest is located on a flat plain on
the top of a conical mountain. This mountain is the remains of the
BLACK TOWER of anciant times. The upper and lower cities are
connected both by a spiral roadway, and by several long staircases.
One of these staircases is over 1324 steps high. (27, p.1)
The mountain is carved with skulls and demon heads, which are
first seen in issue 31, p.15.
Iest is somewhat decadent. SOPHIA speaks of "selling her old
chain mail bikinis to perverts in Iest..." (10, p.15).
ILLUSIONISTS
Mentioned in issues 20, 28, xxx, 159-160.
Founded by SUENTEUS PO THE SECOND, their primary tenet is that
"All Life was an Illusion," (159, p.9).
Judging by his tactics, the wizard in issue 1 is an illusionist.
...
Their meditation techniques allow them to live extremely long
lives. (28, p.2)
They may have high government positions. (28, p.8)
IMESH
A small port city on the SOFIM River (8, p.19). Before being
taken over by K'COR, it featured such sights as the Ram and Peacock
Tavern and the Red Crescent Quarter (9, p.5). Magus Doran lived here
(Introduction to issue 9, _Swords_of_Cerebus_, Volume Three).
Referred to as a "northern" city in the introduction to issue 9
in _Swords_of_Cerebus_, Volume Three, though that is inconsistent with
the above description.
Ruled by Hsifan in CEREBUS' youth (9, p.2).
[Remember to deal with positional problems]
INNEC STARYM
...
Kidnapped from the REGENCY HOTEL in 1244. (29, p.4)
INQUISITION
First mentioned in issue 30.
The letters column in issue 36 says that they are "on the ropes."
IRONCAT, DR.
Appears in issue 163.
Author of "My Mother, My Husband, My pain".
A parody of cat yronwode, Editor-in-Chief of Eclipse Comics.
ISSHURIAN LANDS
Located to the north of the SEPRAN EMPIRE. Presumably the
birthplace of ARNOLD THE ISSHURIAN.
JAKA
Appears in issues 6.
Cameos/Mentions in issues 16, 157.
The love of CEREBUS' life.
When first seen, she is a exotic tavern dancer in Iest.
...
In issue 36, she returns CEREBUS' sword which he lost in the
second Cockroach episode when the boat bottom fell through.
JANETTE
Appears in issues 23-24.
A student at MADAME DUFORT's School for Gifted Debutantes.
THE JUDGE
Appears in issues 155-156, 161.
Cameos/Mentions in issue 157-158.
Based on the Judge character from Jules Feieffer's play (and
movie) "Little Murders".
JULIUS, LORD
Appears in issues 14-19, 151, 160-162.
Cameos/Mentions in issues 157.
Lord Julius is based on Julius (better know as Groucho) Marx, most
especially as he appeared in "Duck Soup", as the ruler of a small
European country. He has risen to be Grandlord of PALNU through a
combination of thouroughly confusing his opponents, and outright bribery
on a mass scale.
"Lord Julius does not permit his employees to speak to each other
except through him... He believes that it causes much dissatisfaction
in the city..." "How does anything get done?" This is a *bureaucracy*,
sir... nothing is supposed to get done." (15, p.5).
Lord Julius has almost eliminated crime in PALNU, largely by
having a Board of Justice "renowned for their wisdom, experience... and
unblemished record of three thousand two hundred and eighty-one
convictions in three thousand two hundred and eighty-one trials..." (16,
p.8)
"I wanted to show that Lord Julius (like Elrod) always lands on
his feet and that (unlike Elrod) it is as a result of his own sense of
political timing and manipulation of the resources at hand, even if
that's just his own imagination (as seen by [issue 19] page twelve). It
was my way of indicating that he was to be taken seriously by the reader
even though his earlier appearances painted him as an incompetent.
After all, a leader who is perceived as incompetent is more likely to be
under-estimated by potential rivals. The impact of his endless
successes, domestically and in other parts of Estarcion can be seen in
"High Society". "Nothing succeeds like success" as the saying goes."
(_Swords_of_Cerebus_, volume 5, introduction to issue 19).
On the letters page of issue 26, Sim describes Julius as being
at the head of the rising merchant class in ESTARCION. Since he pays
his people so well (and controls *all* of them), Lord GORCE's chances
were "slim and nil."
"JULIUS' SOCIAL SECRETARY"
Appears in issues 14-16, but is never actually named. Leader of
the EYE IN THE PYRAMID, until his death in issue 16.
JYLCEW
A satellite city of PALNU.
KATRINA
Appears in issue 23-24.
A student at MADAME DUFORT's School for Gifted Debutantes.
She is a neice of LORD JULIUS, and probably a sister to JAKA (24,
p.8).
K'COR
Appears in issues 9, 155-156, 158-159.
Cameos/mentions in 1ssue 161.
King of Imesh. He conquered the city through the use of
subterfuge, economics and narcotics (BUZ). He considers himself a
demi-god, and has mobilized the city of IMESH against an imagined
invasion from Venus. He is a good swordsman (9, p.19).
...
Later shows up in High Society during Petuniacon.
In _mothers_&_daughters_, he appears in the CHESS game as the
Black King's Pawn.
KEVILLISTS
Described by SEUNTEUS PO THE FIRST as "A rebellious faction
that's only recently come to light in Upper Felda -- in Cirin's own
government. ... A fanatic's fanatic." (28, p.5)
KEVILLIST ORIGINS
A book by ASTORIA. Excerpts follow:
"The penis is an organ without scruple, without humanity, without
common sense. Those women who understand this fact and make use of it
have at their command all the resources of the modern world. I first
had sexual congress at the age of fourteen with a high-placed government
official in my native Lower Felda. He had pursued me, despite (or,
rather, I suspect because of) my extreme youth for a period of several
months. I was drawn very much to the power that he wielded within that
government. I was attracted, however, not as a would-be lifemate,
potential concubine or wife-to-be. Rather, I was drawn as someone who
desired that same power for herself, as a means of instituting societal
change for my own betterment and for the betterment of those elements of
female society with which I was (and am) sympathetic. I presented my
decision to him in the form of a bargain. He would answer all of the
questions that I had about acheiving, maintaining and using power and in
exchange (once I was satisfied with his answers), his unscrupulous organ
would be free to do with me as it would. We had a series of five
meetings, each of several hours duration. I took meticulous notes,
asked for clarification where I lacked understanding of the subject
matter and began to get the first sketchy impressions of the parameters
and dimensions of the task which lay before me. Once satisfied that I
had learned all that this particular individual had to teach me, I then
fulfilled my half of the bargain. The act itself took only slightly
longer than eight minutes. I cleaned myself thoroughly, dressed and
left his apartments. I had retained may of his letters of earnest
entreaty and when (as I knew he would) he attempted to renew our
relationship, I threatened him with exposure as a pederast. He ceased
his unwanted attentions and I began my political career." (163, p.2).
"The great flaw of any matriarchy is that it limits political
power to those individuals who are the least concerned with progress and
achievement. While any society must see the safety of its children as a
priority; it must not, should not and can not be that socity's first
priority. Advancement in the quality of female lives, advancement in
the sciences, in medicine, in exploration, in the arts; the conquest of
new territories, the expansion of borders in all areas of endeavour,
both physical and mental, is critical to the health of empire. An
empire which contents itself to build layers of insulation, both
physical and mental, around itself and its citizenry, will soon find
itself atrophying and falling swiftly into decay; easy prey for the
competitors for whom aggression, whether between individuals, geographic
regions or empires, stands as the foremost characteristic of their
governing body. Where aggression is the primary characteristic
ofempire, it soon makes hsort work of those competitors who are
quiescent, complacent and passive. The nation-state which is not
prepared to consume its neighbors, will, inevitably, be consumed by
those neighbors." (163, p.10).
"Most of the matriarchy's rhetoric centers on the family (or,
rather, the Family); they are obsessive regarding childrens' needs for
caring and nurturing and they hold in the greatest contempt those who
hold any viewpoint contrary to this. The bond between mother and child
is their most sacred totem and their universal rallying cry. It is,
therefore, curious to note that at the upper levels of Cirin's
government (and, in fact, at most levels of her bureaucracy) the
children of her officials are cared for by nannies and governesses until
the age of five when they are unceremoniously shipped off to government-
run boarding schools. Cirin's own son, Gerrik told me that he did not
spend a full day in his mother's company until he was nearly sixteen;
and then it was merely to observe her working day so that he might have
a fuller appreciation of the complexities of governing Upper Felda."
(163, p.18)
KEVITCH
A sub-personality of the Moon Roach. See COCKROACH.
KHAIDOGE THE UNGOVERNABLE
A nomad barbarian lord whose lands are east of the FELDWAR STATES
and south of the WALL OF TSI and the TCAPMIN KINGDOMS. Frequently
makes attacks against the TCAPMIN KINGDOMS.
KHAIVEN
A subject of KHAIDOGE THE UNGOVERNABLE.
KHEM
Appears in issues 2, 151.
A demon/succubus CEREBUS encounters in issue 2. Allegedly the
gaurdian of the EYE OF TERIM, though this may not be true. It feeds
on souls, and uses the captured bodies as sorcerous warriors. When
CEREBUS somehow breaks its spell, the captive souls are freed and
their bodies reduced to skeletons.
It is first referenced as possessing a "crimson claw" (2, p.14)
which may have something to do with the Red Claw terrorists that keep
popping up in the COCKROACH's origins.
At the time of the "Great Change", itrealizes the purposelessness
of its existence (now that its spell has been broken by CEREBUS) and
apparently self-destructs (151, p.7).
KLOG
A Northern barbarian CEREBUS kills in issue 2.
KOIN TRIBES
Located to the south of the desert of NESHFALNIN. Only appears
in the Aardvarkian Age map.
KOREM
King of PANROVY. Apparently missing (9, p.15)?
KOSHEM
A PANROVIAN Lord, in the service of King K'COR in issue 9.
KOTA MOUNTAINS
A mountain range to the south of the SEPRAN EMPIRE. Possibly its
southern border.
KRAUFTIG
A T'GITAN warrior. Appears in issue 18.
KRULL, Commander
Appears in issue 17.
Mentioned in issue 18.
A very famous army commander of PALNU.
"The Commander Krull character was, on the one hand, my version of
Conan the King. He was also patterned on Colonel Flagg from M*A*S*H.
.. [He is] the first of my characters to be living his own
autobiography. ... I have come to think that most 'heroes' are
primarily 'legends in their own minds'. That is to say, while they
protest endlessly that they're just doing their jobs and that any grand
motivations ascribed to them are strictly the problem of certain
individuals who don't know them very well, most of them actually keep
careful track of their 'image' on a day-to-day basis, basing their
decisions, at least in part, on how it will appear in the 'Legend of Me,
Book Seven.' These individuals can usually be picked out in a crowd by
the presence of their 'official biographer.' This is a chap who usually
doesn't get much attention until the hero is dead, at which time
everyone, (somewhat naively) decides that he holds some degree of
'truth' about the deceased.
In the case of the Moon Roach, the official biographer is a
disassociated personality, and consequently rather more difficult to
control (rather like William Manchester travelling around inside Robert
Kennedy's head, privy to too many un-heroic thoughts and impulses). In
the case of Krull, the biographer [GRIMES] is really little more than a
stenographer. Anyone who thinks that this is a radical rather than a
minor caricaturing of the official biographer's role should read a few
official biographies and compare them with a few unofficial ones."
(_Swords_of_Cerebus_, volume 5, Introduction to issue 17.)
LAFORT, EXECUTIVE COMMANDER
Appears (sort of) in issue 22.
A member of the military tribunal ruling LOWER FELDA, and a parody
of President Jimmy Carter.
DUKE LEONARDI
Appears in issue 153.
LIEBSCHAFT
A T'GITAN warrior. Appears in issue 18.
LINDAS
A small country to the southwest of PALNU (18, map).
LISHYAN
Country to the south of KHAIDOGE THE UNGOVERNABLE. Only appears
in the Aardvarkian Age map.
LOWER FELDA
The country just to the west of IEST. The capital city is BEDUIN.
The local language is represented in Cerebus by French.
Government is by a five-man military tribunal, although
"president" WEISSHAUPT made an unsuccessful takeover attempt.
There was a KEVILLIST rebellion in Lower Felda in 1408 (22, p.12).
LYRAN THE DEATH-DEALER
Executioner/assassin for the BLACK SUN. Appears in issue 7.
MAGIC
Good (?) Evil (?)
Wizard from "Flame Jewel" ?
"Magiking" Wizard Necross HaHaHa The Mad
"Artist Chap" Claremont
MAGGIE'S
Appears in issues 161-163.
Mentioned in issue xxx.
A brothel in IEST, frequented by the COCKROACH, ELROD, and the
MCGREW BROTHERS.
MAPS
Several maps appear in the course of the series. Two early ones
appear as supplemental material in the back of issues, and later ones
are actually worked into the storyline. The two early ones are rather
rough, and open to interpretation.
"The Aardvarkian Age"
A map of Estarcion which appears in issue 3.
Designed by Michael Loubert (Deni's brother), who created all the
place names as well.
"Palnu"
A map of Palnu appeared in "the arrdvarkian age" column of issue 18.
MCGREW BROTHERS
Appear in issues 27, 160-161.
Dirty Fleagle and his baby brother Dirty Drew first appear in
issue 27. Moderately skilled fighters, but no match for CEREBUS.
MEALC
A small island in the SEA OF THE SOUTH. Capital is Mealca.
MEIRGEN
The son of a jeweller who possessed the BLACK BLOSSOM LOTUS for
many years. A native of RESS. Appeared in issue 10.
MELVINBONE
A far-off (quite possibly imaginary) country, of which ELROD is
the king.
MINON, GENERAL
Mentioned in issue 22.
A member of the military tribunal ruling LOWER FELDA.
MISSY
Appears in issues 151-157.
Jaka's doll when she was a child. carried around for some time
by Cerebus after _Jaka's_Story_.
MIT
A priest of the BLACK SUN. Presumably found a new profession
after the events of issue 7.
MONEY
In 1411, 20 gold pieces are enough for "a few months of
comfortable living" (10, p.8) at Cerebus' wastrel life style in a
major city. "In Tcapmin one could live for three years as a king!"
(10, p.12).
Some TCAPMIN mercenaries are sen gambling with triangular coins.
These may be triangular wedges of larger denomination round coins.
..
The earliest dated coins were "minted more than fourteen
centuries before" (152, p.14). Quite likely these were the ones first
invented by "Tarim" (91, p.xxx). This further implies that the failed
ascension on that occasion is when the current calendar begins.
MOON ROACH
A personality of the COCKROACH.
MORESH
A city on the FELD River, just south of the WALL OF TSI.
Possibly pasrt of the TCAPMIN KINGDOMS.
NAMA LOTUS
A hallucinogenic flower, used as a weapon by the Illusionist in
issue 1.
NEAFON THE GREAT
Known only for his "saying" (quoted by LORD JULIUS) "If at first
you don't succeed... you better start looking for a new employer..."
(14, p.9).
NECROSS HAHAHA THE MAD
Appears in issues 13, xxx.
An evil wizard, who, upon the death of his physical body, placed
his life force into a sixteen-foot stone statue he had created, named
THRUNK.
From an Introduction in _Swords_of_Cerebus_, Volume 4: "As for
Necross the (ha ha ha) Mad. He was cut from whole cloth; Exidor from
'Mork and Mindy' (did anybody at *all* watch the second and third
seasons?) He was a very bouncy character, which I hadn't realized
until I had a few pages done. Much like the Moon Roach would later,
he led me to develop almost a completely different style in order to
capture the kind of broad gestures and body movements of a real
nutbar."
NEDECA
The souteast district of PALNU (18, map). It appears not to
contain any large cities.
NEMETH RIVER
Flows through the VESSARIAT province of PALNU. The cities of
ENIATH and HIVAT are located upon it (18, map).
NERAK
Appears in issue 22.
An Agenda Secretary for the military tribunal which rules LOWER
FELDA.
NEW MATRIARCHY, THE
A book by Cirin. Excerps follow:
"The mother Terim directs, and we, her priestesses obey. We seek
the divine inspiration within us and we spread the word our mother. As
we learn to face toward the hub of the wheel, it is incumbent upon us
all to show the path of reason, of love, and of obedience to those who
are unable to perceive the symmetry of mother, child and the true path.
It is our goal not only to find our own illumination, but to give
illumination to others. For some we need only point the way. Others we
must lead. Still others we must push. Above all, we cannot dismiss any
soul as extraneous. All originate within the mother and all must be
instructed in her ways..." (20, p.1).
"Great tolerance must be exercised when dealing with daughters.
It is very difficult for a mother to recall that confused and turbulent
time in her life when existence is profoundly unfocussed and a girl
feels very strongly all the myriad forces which exert themselves upon
her; both external forces and, more perniciously, her own tendency to
submit herself and her will to that which is transient, attractive,
compelling and ill-advised. Childbirth is the Goddess' greatest gift to
womankind wherein an ordered mind supplants a disordered one; reality
breaks through the thin membrane of interwoven and convoluted illusion
which is a girl's consciousness to that point. Suddenly genuine purpose
and True Womanhood make of her a contributing member of society, where
previously she had been merely a discordant and willful obstruction to
all that is ordered and healthy. The birth of a child takes the mother
out of her own limited and self-absorbed vanity and shows her, clearly
and in a way which will brook no denial, what the Goddess' purpose for
her is. The irrational rage of the young girl who is reminded of this
fact is proof positive that within her, at the core of her essential
being, a True Voice is speaking always to her; reminding her that it is
her destiny to bring forth new life; to care for it and to nurture it.
When a daughter rails against this nature, the wise mother is silent and
leaves it to the True Voice within the daughter to work its sweet magic
on its own timetable, as it surely will. Time is always on the side of
that True Voice." (163, p.3).
"The principle reason that we allow only mothers to govern and to
decide the large issues of government in Upper Felda is that they are
the only individuals with a genuine stake in the future of our country.
If, as many advocate, we extended the voting franchise to daughters once
they have reached an arbitrarily chosen age of majority, we would be
submitting the fate of our grand and noble experiment to the caprice and
whim of individuals who are seeking to escape their own nature. To give
them such an outlet would provide an alternative to the following of
their True Voice, the dictates of the Goddess Herself and would result
in universal madness of the first water. Why have we forbidden men a
role in the affairs of state? Because men seek to escape the fact of
their expendability (once they have fertilized the egg which becomes new
life) with incautious adventurism. Aware that nothing will remain of
them to mark their passing, they inevitably seek to make their mark
through destruction of peace and order. The young girl's unreasonable
fear of childbirth will find outlets in exactly this kind of
destructiveness. To open the flood-gates even fractionally; allowing
daughters to wield political power; is to invite swift and chaotic
inundation." (163, p.11).
"Those daughters who attempt to achieve political power without
first having the benefit of childbirth are not nearly so trouble-some as
one might be led to believe. In a majority of cases, their seeking
after power and influence is largely a means of attracting male
attentions. Once a suitable mate presents himself, they will continue
to go through the motions of climbing the ladder of success for a time;
but soon, they are married and shortly thereafter they are with child.
In those situations where the cart is before the horse; where career
comes before childbirth; it is interesting to note that few daughters
ever return to that career. In those situations where the career comes
after childbirth, career is kept in its proper place as an ancillary
interest to the fuller and more important task of child-rearing." (163,
p.19).
NESHFALNIN
A desert to the east of the TCAPMIN KINGDOMS and the PIMINA
MOUNTAINS. Only appears in the Aardvarkian Age map.
N'GAMIN
One of the T'CAPMIN KINGDOMS.
NINTH SPHERE
NO MAN'S SEA
A far northern sea. Only appears in the Aardvarkian Age map.
normalroach
A personality of the COCKROACH.
NORMINA SWARTSKOF
Appears in issues 152-155.
Mentioned in issue 156.
Obviously named after Norman Schwarzkopf, hero of the Gulf War.
Apparently highly ranked (the top?) of Cirin's military forces.
Led the conquest of Iest.
Killed by PUNISHEROACH in issue 155.
NYMIN BARBARIANS
Located to the south of AMSTANAT. Only appear in the Aardvarkian
Age map.
OATHS, MISCELLANEOUS
"Tauran's blood!" (1, p.19).
"By the five spheres!" (4, p.5), A probable reference to the
SPHERES OF THE GODS.
"Ishtar take us all!" (5, p.3).
"By Gilash's third eye" (9, p.8).
OCEAN SEA
Sea to the west of the SEPRAN EMPIRE. Only appears in the
Aardvarkian Age map.
ONLIU
Located to the east-northeast of PALNU and east of the FELD River.
Native accent is very like the Warner Brother's cartoon character
Yosemite Sam.
Contains the cities of CHENEA and SHAWATO (18, map).
Onliu soldiers like to play Match Diamondback (27, p.11).
One of their major native industries appears to be piracy (14,
p.1, xxx).
OSCAR (1)
Appears in issues xxx,160.
Based on the nineteenth century literary figure, Oscar Wilde.
OSCAR (2)
OSIRIS RIVER
Eastern border of the SEPRAN EMPIRE and the Western Church of
Tarim's influence. Presumably this is the river on the map that is
just east of PANROVY.
PALNU
The wealthiest city-state in ESTARCION, partially due to having
been missed by the recent years crop failures. Currently ruled by
LORD JULIUS.
The city-state of Palnu is divided into six districts: Old Palnu,
the area immediately around the city of Palnu; PARMOC to the northwest,
containing the city of FLUROC; VESSARIAT to the northeast, containing
the cities of HIVAT and ENIATH; CI'NUFINN to the west, containing the
cities of AVERS and CIHNU; BEHN RHIADOR to the southwest, containing the
city of STEHLIS; and NEDECA to the southeast. Palnu is bodrerd on the
east and south by the BAY OF SUNSHEE, and on the west and northwest by
the GITAN RIVER. Palnu and STEHLIS are located on the SEN BIR RIVER,
while ENIATH and HIVAT are on the NEMETH RIVER.
From issue 14: "The aristocracy had all but vanished in Palnu!
Bound as they were to their enormous estates, they were no competition
for the thriving merchant class whose assets now generated undreamt of
income. There were five dominant merchant "houses" within the city
walls. These houses employed "clients," each citizen of voting age
being a client, their living expenses paid by the house "lord" in
exchange for their vote! The lord, by paying for these votes, assured
himself a place on the "Grand Council of Palnu." The lord who owned
the most clients, and, hence, votes was made 'grandlord' of the city
and its surrounding territory! At the moment, this was Lord Julius!
The wrinkle that Julius had added to this idea was the selling of
titles for additional revenue! The lords of the nouveau-riche
merchant houses, having, some time before, run out of things to buy,
now filled Julius' cofffers in exchange for the title of their choice!
These they handed out like party favours to concubines, family
bodyguards, accountants, nieces, nephews and, of course, themselves."
(14, p.4).
Palnan architecture is very ornate, and easily climbable (14,
p.14).
"...the first lords of Palnu untapped mysteries of the ancient
world! There were rumours of strange unholy experiments... alchemy and
other forbidden disciplines... For a time, the Church of Tarim struck
Palnu from their maps, and allowed no priest to venture within a half-
mile of it. And then... about a century ago... an earthquake swallowed
up the city; a gift from the infinite mercies of the living Tarim...
Thousands died, virtually in the blinking of an eye! Fully ninety
percent of the city disappeared beneath the surface. Even today, many
of the old streets lie intact beneath the city... It is these passage-
ways which are called... the Pits! Though most regard them as an
amusing bit of folklore, populated by mythical beasts, dreamed up to
frighten children. They are unaware that much evil manifested in the
old city yet lives in those dark caverns." (15, p.7). Charts of much,
if not all of the Pits are available. THE EYE IN THE PYRAMID initially
operated out of the Pits.
PANROVY
A southern city state. Their king (KOREM) appears to be missing
(9, p.15). They seem to have a proud ruling class, if not
particularly bright.
Panrovians have a stylized dueling form with sword and dagger (3,
p.5).
Panrovian monks are not known for their sanity (5, p.13).
PARMOC
The northwestern district of PALNU, containing the city of FLUROC.
PARTHA QUA NON
A PIGT from issue 5.
PENTAZIN
A swift, flavorless toxin native to ESHNOSPUR (14, p.7).
PERCE
Appears in issues 19-20.
Cameos/mentions in issue 21.
"... As I was to decide with Astoria later on, I decided to draw
Perce as a real-real person (for reference, I class Cerebus as fantasy-
fantasy, Elrod as fantasy-real, Lord Julius as real-fantasy, Filgate as
real-fantasy, The Moon Roach as fantasy-real. Get the idea?)
So I decided Perce had to be real-real, about nineteen or twenty
years old and that she would have the distinction of being a Cirinist
pretending to be a Kevillist pretending to be a Cirinist. That's Togith
for you.
So I decided to be like the REAL cartoonists (Hal Foster springs
readily to mind) and draw a real person as Perce. I decided on Deni's
sister, Karen for a number of reasons. Wehad pictures of her, she was
the right age, (she was the person who suggested "Aardvark Press"
leading to the decision to do an aardvark mascot) and (ho, ho, ho) she
would be easy to draw. I never made that mistake again. If I draw real
people in the strip now, I always make them caricatures. It's not that
the results were all that bad, but it took an awful lot of effort to
make the pictures barely adequate.
But the discipline required in learning how to draw a real person
in cartoon form meant that I had a lot of time to contemplate the
Kevillists and the Cirinists (since Togith is a major center for both
groups). The more I worked on getting the pictures right, the more
complicated the Cirinists and the Kevillists got and the more
complicated the story line I was working on got.
...
Anyway, I started building the cornerstones for all this intruige
in this issue with Perce (she's not really a prostitute, but I won't go
into that now)." (_Swords_of_Cerebus_, Volume 5, Introduction to issue
19.)
PERNANN
A region of TOGITH? (18, map).
PIEUREU
Appears inissue 13. A native of THEYR.
PIGTS
Appear (as a group) in issues 151, 155-156, 158-159, 161-162.
Cameos/Mentions in issues 157.
To some extent these are a parody of the Picts, as written by
Robert E. Howard.
A race of warriors that live in underground catacombs in the RED
MARCHES. We are a private people and find the privacy comforting" (5,
p.9).
They are fond of drinking fermented goat's blood (5, p.12).
They speak a dialect of CONNIPTIN (5, p.12), and may be an
offshoot of them, or vice-versa.
"We exist only to *topple* the empire" Among those they claim to
have toppled are the Redeemer Dynasty, the Eastern Monoliths and the
BLACK TOWER EMPIRE (5, p.12). Only the last has been heard of
elsewhere, but the other two sound as if they might well be similar.
When CEREBUS meets them, they are trying to topple the DEHRSION
monarchy, but hope to get to the BOREALANS within the decade. These
plans may well have been put on hold due to CEREBUS' presence.
Their leader is BRAN MAK MUFIN, and he commands an elite group of
fifty warriors (5, p.13). They are very good, though, and a force to
be reckoned with.
They worship an idol of an aardvark, who looks very much like
CEREBUS. Their name seems to derive from "sons of the pig", referring
to the common name for aardvarks of "earth-pig".
At their height, the Pigts had great cities and an impressive
system of roads (28, p.13)
They allegedly caused the Mystic Cataclysm that ended the Black
Tower empire. (28, p.14) I presume that this must have involved their
original aardvark "god", in events similar to those of Church & State.
They marchin units twelve men deep and twelve men abreast (159,
p.16).
PIMINA MOUNTAINS
Eastern boundary of the lands of KHAIDOGE THE UNGOVERNABLE.
PITS, THE
See PALNU.
PLAINS DWELLERS
Apparently, inhabitants of the RED MARCHES who burn skunks
ceremonially. (5, p.6).
POSEY, ARCHBISHOP
Appears in issues xxx,160.
An Archbishop of the EASTERN ORTHODOX CHURCH OF TARIM.
PRESTON, SEARGENT
A personality of the COCKROACH.
PUNISHEROACH
A personality of the COCKROACH.
RACHINNE
A location of some sort (probably near the border between IEST and
LOWER FELDA) where a select group of alchemists (once including
CLAREMONT) work.
RAM'S LORDS TAVERN
A dive in Lower Iest. First appears in issue 26.
RASHAZAR, PRINCE
Mentioned in issue 24.
Prince of ESHNOSPUR, at least until the rebellion (24, p.3).
RED CLAW CULT
Mentioned in issues 11-12.
Probably followers of KHEM, who is said to have a "crimson claw"
(2, p.14).
The COCKROACH believes that Red Claw cultists killed his parents.
RED MARCHES
Located between the SEPRAN EMPIRE to the west, the TCAPMIN
KINGDOMS to the east, and the FELDWAR STATES and the KOTA MOUNTAINS to
the south.
Once solely owned by the PIGTS, now occupied by their remnants
along with several other scattered tribes, including CONNIPTINS, and
the HSIFAN KHANATE.
REGENCY DESK CLERK
First appears in issue 26.
REGENCY HOTEL
First appears in issue 26 as "Iest's oldest and most lavish
hotel!"
Cameos/mentions in issues 159.
See also REGENCY DESK CLERK and REGENCY ELF
RESS
A city (kingdom?) in the TCAPMIN KINGDOMS.
RIVERSHIRE PROVINCE
A province of IEST.
The site of SUENTEUS PO THE FIRST's second birth (159, p.9)
SAN-FONIL
Capital of AMSTANAT. Only appears in the Aardvarkian Age map.
SAN TREMAIN
A city in LOWER FELDA. Suffered an earthquake, allegedly caused by
NECROSS HAHAHA THE MAD.
SARTE
Appears in issue 19.
Commander of SEAF's military government.
SCHWAGERIN
A T'GITAN warrior. Mentioned in issue 18.
SCORZ
First appears in issue 26. Leading member of Scorz, Scorz and
sons. Trying to interest Palnu in underground sewage pipes. Has a
strange accent (Beduin? Serrea?).
SEA OF TANCHYA
Located to the east of the desert of NESHFALNIN. Only appears in
the Aardvarkian Age map.
SEA OF THE SOUTH
Only appears in the Aardvarkian Age map.
SEAF
A small country to the northof PALNU and TOGITH. Their military
government is headed by Commander SARTE.
SEDRA
Appears in issue 9.
Cameos/mentions in issue 159, 161.
K'COR's mistress.
SEN BIR RIVER
A river going throughthe center of PALNU. The cities of PALNU and
STEHLIS are located upon it (18, map).
SENNACHIN
A city (in TOGITH?) (18, map).
SEPRAN EMPIRE
A "loosely knit and militant empire" (4, p.2).
The SOFIM River is generally considered to be its eastern border,
though the lands immediately beyond it (the RED MARCHES) are not
strongly held (or desired) by any one group. Its capital city is
SERREA, located on the SOFIM river.
SEPRANS (and NEW SEPRANS) speak in a "mock-Italian" accent.
SEUNTEUS PO THE ILLUSIONIST describes it's Golden age as
"...quite nearly Vanaheim on Earth. The greatest freedom for the
greatest number, government control so decentralized as to be almost
non-existent." (158, p.7).
SERET, FORMER EXECUTIVE COMMANDER
Mentioned in issue 22.
A member of the military tribunal ruling LOWER FELDA.
SERREA
Capital city of the SEPRAN EMPIRE, located on the SOFIM
River.
SET
A god or demon of some sort. Frequently used as an oath: "for
Set's sake!" (3, p.11).
Various other Egyptian-style names may imply that Set is the god
of Death and the Underworld. This might make him the same "DEATH"
that appeared in issue 4.
SETH
Appears in issues 153-154.
Mentioned in issue 157.
An artist.
SEVENTH SPHERE
Appears in issues 154-156.
A mystical plane of existence, in shades of gray and black. See
also EIGHTH SPHERE and NINTH SPHERE.
SHADOW-CRAWLER
Appears in issue 15.
A semi-mythical cave-snake, of prodigious size
SHAWATO
A city in ONLIU (18, map).
SHEA
Mentioned in issue 20.
An ILLUSIONIST in TOGITH. Possibly named after Robert Shea, co-
author of the _Illuminatus!_ trilogy.
SHEN STEPPES
Lands located to the north of the TCAPMIN KINGDOMS.
SHOMBER, Prince
Mentioned in issue 19.
Ruler of IANAG.
SINANON HILLS
Located in the CI'NUFINN province of PALNU.
SMINA
A city in the TCAPMIN KINGDOMS.
Has a central bank with an Iest office and secret accounts (27,
pgs.7,17).
SOFIM RIVER
Runs through the southwestern part of the SEPRAN EMPIRE.
Generally considered to be a border of the empire. The capital city,
SERREA is located on it, as is DEHRSION.
SOPAI ASSASSINS
Highly trained assassins from the HSIFAN KHANATE. They
customarily employ brass throwing discs called "yan-su".
SOPHIA, RED
Appears in issues 3, 10, xxx-xxx, 163.
Cameos/mentions in issues 19,.
Daughter of HENROT and MRS. HENROT-GUTCH.
Red Sophia is a parody of Red Sonja, a character from the Conan
books and comics. She had her own comic book series for a while,
which was drawn by Frank Thorne. The name Henrot is an anagram of
Thorne, and Henrot is drawn to look like Frank Thorne. She was also
partially a tribute to Wendy Pini's portrayal of Red Sonja at science
fiction conventions (with Frank Thorne as a wizard). Wendy didn't
really like Red Sophia, which was part of why she didn't appear
between issues 10 and xxx.
SOUTHERN CITY STATES
ENOTHAS, DEHRSION, ESHNOSPUR, PANROVY, and possibly PALNU. The
city states located on the western coast of the SEA OF THE SOUTH,
south of the SEPRAN EMPIRE. Some or all of these are under the
influence or control of the SEPRAN EMPIRE (PALNU definitely isn't).
They have been experiencing droughts and low crop yields since at
least 1410, possibly several years more than that (8, p.13, etc.)
SOUTHGATE PRISON
A prison in SERREA where CEREBUS and ELROD were held captive
once. It's alleged to have cells thousands of meters underground (4,
p.19).
SPHERES OF THE GODS
The most precious of these is allegedly the EYE OF TERIM. They
contain knowedge of great use to wizards (2, p.16).
HENROT is said to draw power from two of them (3, p.1).
STEHLIS
A city in the BEHN RHIADOR district of PALNU (18, map).
STEMSON
Mentioned in issue 18.
A FLUROC exporter, killed in the T'GITAN attack.
STROMM
Appears in issue 17.
Mentioned in issue 18.
A T'GITAN warrior who is passed off by his father, GUDRE, as "God
of Thunder". He is mute, due to having had his tongue cut out by
Commander KRULL.
SUENTEUS PO
The major problem with this character is that there are at
- least* three people in the storyline with this name, probably more.
The notebook pages for issue 47 refer to "...the nearly infinite
number of Suenteus Po's". See following entries for details.
SUENTEUS PO, MISCELLANEOUS
One of the SUENTEUS PO's wrote a book of children's fales some
time around 1312 which "were in fact allegories for complex spells and
incantations" (24, p.16), including that for the creation of the
APOCALYPSE BEAST.
SUENTEUS PO THE ANARCHO-ROMANTIC
SUENTEUS PO THE FIRST
Appears in issue 20, 28, 155-161.
Cameos/mentions in issue 21.
One of the three currently living aardvarks. Has never been seen
in his physical body, only mental manifestations on the SEVENTH,
EIGHTH, and NINTH SPHERES.
In his first appearance (in issue 20), Suenteus Po seems (or at
least *acts*) like an only semi-competent leader of a small quasi-
religious group of drug users, the Illusionists. He claims to have no
knowledge of CIRINIST "plans", and to be helping Cerebus "for fun".
Probably, very little of this is true.
..
According to the Suenteus Po who appears in issues 158-161:
Actually not the *first* person of this name, since he took the
name after a "great historian who had led the Sepran Empire away from
the pitfall of centralized government several hundred years before."
(158, p.7)
He claims to have lived through a number of different
incarnations over the centuries.
His first incarnation was that of a great warrior/statesman (see
xxx; 160).
His second incarnation was a gold-smith, who carved religious
images into coins, and was executed by the Cirinists as a heretic (see
issue 160).
He claims to havelived the rest of his incarnations to date as a
humble ascetic (160, p.10).
SUENTEUS PO THE SECOND
Mentions in issues xxx, 158-160.
Originally named Alfred, son of SEUNTEUS PO THE FIRST.
Upon his father's death, he assumed the name Suenteus Po, and led
the army that conquered IEST. IEST had a brief Golden Age, which was
destroyed through internal friction, incompetence, and natural
disasters.
In his final years, he embraced myticism, and founded the
ILLUSIONISTS. He granted his name to his followers, and it has been
used by many (if not most) ILLUSIONISTS ever since.
SUENTEUS PO III
Mentioned in issue 160.
"a bloated caricature of his father" (160, p.9).
SUMP THING
Appears in issue 25.
An APOCALYPSE BEAST created by Lord Roth-Sump (possibly a phonetic
pun on "Wrightson", the artist who created Swamp Thing). Also known as
"Filbert", and later "Fred". Since this is the first beast, it's "burn-
word" is "nothing" (25, p.2).
See WOMAN-THING for more details.
TANSUBAL
A city/province of BOREALA. (See MAPS: "The Aardvarkian Age".)
TARIM
First mentioned in issue 1.
A male god, worshipped by both the WESTERN and EASTERN CHURCHES
OF TARIM.
Frequently used as an oath: "Tarim!" (1, p.7; 2, p.16; 3, p.7,
etc.), "Tarim's blood!" (3, p.1; 5, p.2), "Tarim be with you," (3,
p.3), "Tarim's teeth!" (3, p.8), "Tarim take me for a vagrant!" (3,
p.10), "thank Tarim" (3, p.11), "in Tarim's name" (3, p.11; 8,
pgs.14,16, etc.), "may Tarim be merciful" (4, p.1), "Tarim's teeth and
toothpicks!" (6, p.9), "Tarim be praised!" (9, p.15), "Praise Tarim
and his infinite mercy" (13, p.6)
The name Tarim was also used to swear by in Conan comic books
(and original stories?).
T'CAPMIN KINGDOMS
Include N'GAMIN, SMINA, UNSHIB, and RESS. Southern boundary is
the WALL
OF TSI.
Special decorations are given to men who man the WALL OF TSI for
twenty years against the invasions of KHAIDOGE THE UNGOVERNABLE.
T'CHAISRATSA
A small country to the northwest of TOGITH (18, map).
TEMZA
A coastal city in BOREALA. Only mentioned in issue 3, but
appears in the map of the Aardvarkian Age.
TERIM
First mentioned in issue 2.
A female god, worshipped most recently by the Cirinists.
TECHOT THAL
Tries to pull CEREBUS' tail and gets his hand cut off. (1, p.2)
TERIM
T'GITANS
Appear (as a group) in issues 17-18.
Cameos/mentions in issues 19, 21-22.
Common name for several barbarian tribes located in the forests to
the northeast of PALNU. They speak with a Germanic accent (because Dave
Sim was watching a lot of Hogan's Heroes at the time of their creation
(_Swords_of_Cerebus_, volume Four, Introduction to Issue 17)).
"The T'Gitans were originally Borealans, from up north. They were
a mercenary band, with camp followers and other hangers-on. Wandering
about the Feldwor states, they settled in Seaf for awhile, but left to
avoid the civil war that broke out there. Togith allowed them in." (19,
the aardvarkian age).
On the letters page of issue 26, Sim says that the T'Gitans only
ever had the slimmest possible chance of taking Palnu, and none once
Lord GORCE was introduced.
THATCHER, MRS.
Appears in issues 153-154, 156, 158, 161-162.
Cameos/Mentions in issues 157.
A CIRINIST. Parody of Margeret Thatcher, former Prime Minister of
Britain.
THERESA
Appears in issues 23-24.
A student at MADAME DUFORT's School for Gifted Debutantes.
THEYR
A village in LOWER FELDA, downstream from BEDUIN. Presumably named
after the historical character Theyr (circa ~1100) who is mentioned in
"the aardvarkian age" in issue 16.
THROGO
A TCAPMIN mercenary and "twenty-year" man. Appears in issue 10.
THRUNK
See NECROSS HAHAHA THE MAD.
THUGG THE UNSEEMLY
Appears in issue 3. As his name would indicate, an ugly thug.
Gets beaten up by CEREBUS and Sophia.
TIBERIUS
Appears in issue 23.
A soldier in the SEPRAN army. Served with CEREBUS in the RED
MARCHES.
TOGITH
The city-state directly to the north of PALNU. Includes the
satellite city Sennachin (18, map).
Togith has a death penalty for theft (19, p.5)
"By Cerebus' time, the Principality of Togith had become the main
clearing house for Feldan mercenaries. The Prince had become a
figurehead, and the real power was wielded by various Barons who had
become involved in trade (mercenary and otherwise). They had originally
been rather enterprising, lawless types who had pushed out west, but
they eventually settled down and organized." (19, the aardvarkian age).
Togith is a major center for both the CIRINISTS and the KEVILLISTS
(_Swords_of_Cerebus_, volume five, Introduction to issue 19). The
ILLUSIONISTS also have a fairly significant presence there.
TURAN GENN
a mercenary captain who CEREBUS served under in the RED MARCHES
(5, p.1).
TURG
Also called "Turg the unduly tall". Appears in issues 6, 16.
Large,
not too bright muscleman, working for the con artist E'LASS.
TURL
A captain of the CONNIPTIN armies in issue 8.
UNSHIB
A city in the TCAPMIN KINGDOMS.
UPPER FELDA
Currently controlled by a CIRINIST government, after a
revolution.
VESSARIAT
The northeastern district of the city-state of PALNU.
WALL OF TSI
A famous sight on the FELD RIVER, north of MORESH, south of
UNSHIB. Southern boundary of the TCAPMIN KINGDOMS.
WEISSHAUPT, PRESIDENT ADAM
Appears in issues 21, 22.
Weisshaupt is partially based on the historical figure Adam
Weisshaupt, fouder of the Bavarian Illuminati, and partially on the
portrayal of the historical figure in the _Illuminatus!_ trilogy (in
which, among other things, it is alleged that Adam Weisshaupt replaced
George Washington and served as the first President of the United
States). The wig he wears is in the eighteenth-century style.
"As for Weisshaupt himself, I had decided with these two issues
[21-22] to do a parody of Captain America, patriotism, xenophobia,
revolution, literacy, "publish or perish", Bucky Barnes (Captain
America's sidekick), Deadman, the "can-do" presidency (a la FDR and
JFK), the aristocracy and mass appeal. Central to this story-line would
be the most aristocratic, unorthodox, indefatigable obnoxiously self-
confident and creatively schizophrenic individual in all of the Feldwar
Valley.
As long as we're on the topic of my relentless quest to piss all
of you, extremely, off, more than one fan has criticized the fact that
Weisshaupt escapes his fate at the end of issue 22 and reappears some
thirty issues hence with his plan for the United Feldwar States intact
and nearing fruition (something of a mixed metaphor, but you get the
idea). I even asserted something to that effect in Aardvark Comment
when someone asked if Weisshaupt would be coming back and I replied that
he would undoubtedly end up on the gallows for crimes against Lower
Felda's military tribunal.
It was one of those times when I tried to move the storyline in a
direction it wouldn't follow. Why? Beacuse Weisshaupt is too smooth,
too self-assured, too aware, ... too Weisshaupt, to just accept a
verdict and start writing his will.
He sold out.
You have to read between the lines to pick up on that, but then
Weisshaupt is hardly the type to reappear and announce "Guess what? I
abandoned all of my previous convictions and now I'm cooperating with
the authorities because I've discovered it's an easier way to get what I
want".
Notice how in this storyline he isn't talking about the peasants
and the livestock? No disparaging of the common people. Quite the
contrary. He's using the people against the established order. He's
fighting a guerilla war with established banking institutions, adopting
a common, grass-roots perception of current events and offering it as an
alternative to the present government. Then he got caught.
If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.
His success in the more recent issues [circa _Church_&_State_,
volume I] stems from aligning himself with the vanishing aristocracy,
the new merchant class (not so new by this point) and, basically, anyone
with enough money and influence to help him move things along. And
guess which previous allies he had to desert to achieve this goal? No.
No hints.
..
The point I wanted to get across was that the Captain America-style
character steeped in patriotism, thinking with his muscles and
xenophobic as a son-of-a-bitch ... plays right into the hands of a
ruthless schemer and opportunist like Weisshaupt. The presidential use
of xenophobia as a means of unifying widely-differing factions behind a
single leader was central to the story line." (_Swords_of_Cerebus_,
volume six, Introduction to issues 21-22).
...
On the letters page of issue 26, Sim implies that he was executed
after the events in issue 22.
WENDA, MOTHER
Appears in issue 20.
Cameos/mentions in issue 21.
A CIRINIST operating in TOGITH. She must not be very high in the
CIRINIST ranks as she has never met CIRIN (she thinks Cerebus is a
"unique creature" (20, p.1)).
WESTERN CHURCH OF TARIM
WOMAN-THING
Appears in issues 24-25.
An APOCALYPSE BEAST created by CLAREMONT.
"I decided to mix in a parody of two muck monsters that had been
published simultaneously and, by all reports, coincidentally, by Marvel
and DC. Marvel had a series called Man-Thing about a large shambling
green monster who burned people to death if they showed any fear. Sort
of a double-bind considering that there is only one natural reaction to
seeing a ten foot green monster coming towards you. DC published Swamp
thing, a wonderful mixture of Frankenstein and The Creature from The
Black Lagoon. Marvel was also on a kick at this time about protecting
their trademark on major characters by doing female versions of them.
They ended up doing two around the same time -- Spider-Woman and She-
Hulk. The implication of this move, at least in my mind, was that any
publisher doing a female version of a Marvel character that wasn't
Spider-Woman or She-Hulk would have free rein to use those characters --
Thingette, The Woman Torch. So taking the bull by the horns, I decided
to do Woman-Thing." (_Swords_of_Cerebus_, volume six, Introduction to
issues 23-25).
WYNDMEL-SMYTH, LADY ARISTONNIA and LORD LUCIUS
Appear in issue 16.
Mentioned in issue 156.
ZAWIL
A small country to the nothwest of PALNU (18, map).
--
-Hades (Brian V. Hughes)
"No sir, I didn't like it."